G/LIC/N/3/BFA/7  
 
29 June 2023  
(23-4431) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: French  
 
  
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES1  
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 7.3 OF THE AGREEMENT  
ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES (2019)  
BURKINA FASO 
The following communication, dated 15 June 2023, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Burkina Faso.  
 
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Pursuant to Article 7.3 of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures and in response to the 
request from the WTO Central Registry of Notifications, the Government of Burkina Faso hereby 
informs the Committee on Import Licensing that the import licensing procedures notified in 2018 
were not amended in 2019. The replies to the questionnaire on import licensing procedures are 
attached.  
 
1 See document G/LIC/3, Annex, for questionnaire.  G/LIC/N/3/BFA/7  
 
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  In Burkina  Faso, import formalities are limited to the issua nce of a prior import declaration  (DPI), 
which is an import document required for all imports of goods of an f.o.b. value of CFAF  500,000 or 
more.  
 
This DPI is issued immediately and free of charge by the Directorate of the Single Trade and 
Investment Window (DGU/CI) of the Ministry of Trade on the basis of a pro forma invoice.  
 
For certain products, the issuance of a special import authorization (ASI) is a prerequisite for the 
issuance of a DPI. Products requiring import licences include:  
 
- Regulated substances listed in the Montreal Protocol and products or appliances 
containing or functioning with these substances, chemicals and non -biodegradable 
plastic bags and packaging  
For these products, an automatic licence is issued in the form of a n ASI subject to a technical opinion 
from the National Ozone Office , in the case of  regulated substances , or the Directorate -General of 
Environmental Conservation , in the case of chemicals, non -biodegradable plastic bags intended 
specifically for sanitary and scientific and experimental research activities or for national safety and 
security measures.  
Information on eligibility is available from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Crafts and the Ministry 
of the Environment, Green Economy and Climate Change.  
Applications containing the technical opinion of the offices of the Ministry of the Environment, Green 
Economy and Climate Change are received by the Directorate of the Single Trade and Investment 
Window of the Ministry of Trade, which issues the automati c licence within a maximum of 24 hours.  
This automatic licence is applicable on a permanent basis and helps to protect the ozone layer and 
the environment.  
- Explosives and by -products, arms, ammunition and military articles  
For these products, a non -automatic licence is issued in the form of an ASI subject to prior 
authorization and the issuance, by the Ministry responsible for security, of a certificate stating the 
final destination, and, in the case of arms and ammunition, of an ECOWAS exemption certificate. 
For explosives, a technical opinion in the form of an authorization from the Ministry responsible for 
mining is a prerequisite for issuing the ASI.  
This non -automatic licence was introduced to enable the authorities to c ontrol imports of these 
products in view of their extreme sensitivity.  
Applications containing all of the required authorizations and opinions are received by the Directorate 
of the Single Trade and Investment Window, which issues the ASI within a maximum of 24 hours.  
The need to control the importation of arms and explosives requires the application of this procedure 
to be of unlimited duration.  
- Sugar, cottonseed, edible oil, tyres and inner tubes for two -wheeled vehicles, 
wheat flour, potatoes and onio ns  
For these products, non -automatic licences are issued in the form of an ASI by the Ministry of Trade.  
Any information on eligibility is available from the Ministry of Trade.  
Applications accompanied by pro forma invoices are received and processed by t he Directorate of 
the Single Trade and Investment Window, which issues the licence within a maximum of 24 hours.  
 G/LIC/N/3/BFA/7  
 
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  The need to protect the health of consumers and to supply the country with essential foodstuffs that 
comply with prevailing quality standards requires the application of this procedure to be of unlimited 
duration.  
- Animals, animal by -products, fishery and other veterinary products and medical and 
pharmaceutical products  
The importation of these products is subject to the issuance of a non -automatic licence in the form 
of an ASI by the Directorate of the Single Trade and Investment Window upon receipt of a technical 
opinion from the Directorate -General of Veterinary Services.  
The purpose of this procedure is to control health risks linked to imports of animal, medical and 
pharmaceutical products.  
- Plant seeds, pesticides and fertilizers  
The importation of these products is subject to the issuance of a non -automatic licence in the form 
of an ASI by the Directorate of the Single Trade and Inves tment Window upon receipt of a technical 
opinion from the seed, pesticide and fertilizer department of the Ministry of Agriculture.  
The aim of this procedure is to control information on the flows and actors involved in this sector of 
national interest in terms of protecting human health.  
Applications containing all of the required authorizations and opinions are received by the Directorate 
of the Single Trade and Investment Window, which issues the ASI within a maximum of 24 hours.  
 
 
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